Holiday Cottages in Porthtowan
Porthtowan is a small popular village on the Atlantic coast. It lies within the Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape which is a World Heritage Site. Its name comes from the Cornish words 'porth' and 'tewynn' to mean Cove of Sand Dunes.
Porthtowan's history is associated with mining and one of its most prominent buildings is a former engine house converted for residential use. It is also within walking distance by National Trust coastal walks to Chapel Porth, Wheal Coates, Trevaunance Cove and St Agnes.
Porthtowan owes much of its present day character to its popularity as a local seaside resort in Victorian and Edwardian times; the locals from Redruth and the surrounding areas went there, particularly on Bank Holidays. Overlooking Porthtowan are the remains of Wheal Towan, one of Cornwall's most prolific 18th century copper mines, which provided Ralph Allen Daniell of Trelissick with a fortune estimated at the time as a "guinea a minute" night and day.
Porthtowan’s beach has acquired Blue Flag status and consists of soft white sands and dunes.
Porthtowan has become well known as a surf resort and the surfclub building can be found directly on the beach. This is where the judges can be found for the annual SAS Rip Curl Cornish and Open Longboard Championship which is widely covered by the local radio station Atlantic FM. The beach is kept under the constant scrutiny of the St Agnes based charity Surfers Against Sewage.
The town has a general/convenience store, several pubs - including the Blue Bar, which overlooks the beach – a village hall, a couple of cafes and several beach shops. There is also a Chinese restaurant just outside the village called The Flaming Wok.
Every August, Porthtowan beach hosts the SAS/O’Neill Cornish and Open Surf Festival.
